Utrecht

Utrecht. Its the fourth largest city in the Netherlands, and many regard it as the cozier alternative to Amsterdam. The city boasts beautiful canals and parks, lively restaurants and cafés, fascinating museums and remarkable historical buildings. Its city center alone is absolutely worth a visit, but there is much more to Utrecht than that.

Utrecht caters to all ages. The city center bustles with cafés and restaurants and is also home to some wonderful museums. The Nijntje Museum is the perfect place to introduce little ones to museums and to Nijntje (or Miffy, as she is known outside the Netherlands), Utrecht’s world-famous protagonist from Dick Bruna’s series of children’s books. Centraal Museum is for grown-ups. The works on display change frequently, but its collection includes many world-famous pieces. Centraal Museum is also home to the largest Gerrit Rietveld collection in the world.

The Spoorwegmuseum (Railway Museum) is another place that definitely deserves a visit. Board the special train at Utrecht’s station for a direct trip to the wonderful world of old railway stations, steam locomotives, and all things railway-related.

And, of course, no visit to Utrecht is complete without a climb up the 465 steps of the Dom Tower to drink in the spectacular view from the top.

Traditional old buildings and tower of the Dom cathedral in Utrecht

Make your trip to Utrecht unforgettable by paddling through the canals in a canoe. It’s an amazing and healthy way to marvel at the historical canal houses, vaulted cellars, and charming restaurants that simply ooze ambiance.

You may have to watch your head as you pass under the occasional low bridge, but as long as you remember to duck, that shouldn’t stop you from joining in on the fun. If for no other reason than the coffeehouse and dinner bar Tijm, which has set up a drive-through (or should we say sail-through) in the back where canoeists, rowers and other boaters can order beer, coffee and other tasty treats.

Delicious dining in Utrecht

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Restaurant 273

This rising star is a fresh new restaurant, located in perhaps the most beautiful spot in Utrecht: the Oudegracht canal.

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De Watertoren

Take your dining experience to a whole new level – literally! – at Rotsoord, the new restaurant hotspot located in a water tower! Then wash down your dinner with a beer or two at Klein Berlijn or Camping Ganspoort.

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Louis Hartloopercomplex

No visit to Utrecht is complete without a stop at Ledig Erf. Pick a table on the terrace of Louis Hartloopercomplex, order a burger, and enjoy that age-old pastime of people-watching. And before we forget, this is also a great place to watch a movie.

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Le Clochard

Le Clochard in a nutshell: fireplace, delicious spareribs and cheese fondue in a comfortable setting near Park Lepelenburg. Order a craft beer to go with your meal and just relax.

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Kimmade

For a quick sandwich while shopping, stop by Kimmade on Mariastraat for a Vietnamese Banh Mi. Kimmade may be small in size, but it’s big on taste.

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If you wish to take a short break from downtown Utrecht and everything it has to offer, you may want to head over to the pleasant Wittenvrouwen neighborhood which is home to the enormous Wilhelmina Park. Conveniently located near the city center, the neighborhood is surrounded by stately mansions and, although it may come across as a touch pretentious at first glance, its cozy bars and attractive park make it the ideal spot to enjoy a picnic or go for a stroll.

No matter which of Utrecht’s neighborhoods you find yourself in, you can bet that it has a park. Transwijk park, Julianapark, Lepelenburg, Wilhelminapark… they all have their own unique aspects, but one thing they have in common is that they are either big or really big.

Transwijk park, for example, is especially known for the large-scale Liberation Day festival which is held there every year, while Griftpark boasts a large playground and a petting zoo. No matter what park you find yourself in, there are plenty of ways to pass the time. Spread out a blanket and order a pizza or, better yet, treat yourself to a barbecue! As long as you stick to a few rules, local law gives the thumbs up to BBQing in Utrecht’s parks.

And that’s not all. Because Utrecht is in the midst of a huge greening campaign, the city is building more and more bike-only roads and even housefront gardens. The municipality has come up with special subsidies and solutions for the latter. For example, they will pick up your tiles for free if you replace them with green features.

Thanks to all that, Utrecht manages to be one of the greenest cities in the country without losing any of its urban character. Truly a splendid combination.

Green tips

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Le Jardin

The starting point here is fantastic dishes with seasonal vegetables. That doesn't mean you can't eat meat there, but it is only a small part of your experience. It makes for a great restaurant for both vegetarians and carnivores.

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The best spots for vegans and vegetarians

Utrecht nowadays has quite a few options for vegetarians and vegans. In this fine overview you will find restaurants and eateries in different price ranges. Pictured here is Broei, located on the cozy Oosterkade.

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Landhuis in de stad

Meet the deer and peacocks in the animal meadow at Oog in Al Park, then sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee. A historical building in green.

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Fort aan de Klop

Located in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Zuilen, Fort aan de Klop is a surprising green enclave in the city. Go for a walk or a bicycle ride along the river Vecht and stop in at this amazing, centuries-old fortification, which is now an excellent place for lunch, dinner, and even overnight stays.

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De Moestuin

Behind football stadium De Galgenwaard, hidden between crops and greenhouses, you'll find De Moestuin. It is an organic market garden, café with shop and party location in one, but above all it's the ideal green place to have lunch with children.

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Like many other cities in the Netherlands, Utrecht makes every effort to keep cars and trucks as far from its busy center as possible. The result: a fairly low-traffic city center where cyclists have right of way. This applies even on many of the big streets, such as Voorstraat, a major thoroughfare in the very heart of the city. Should you find yourself cycling down this particular road, do yourself a favor and stop by The Village, a local coffee sensation with multiple locations across Utrecht.

Utrecht is rightfully called the most cycle-friendly city in the world.

Peter Walker CNN

Speaking of cycling: Utrecht has every right to call itself a special city. It might not be a major tourist hotspot, but right next to its central train station is the largest bicycle parking lot in the world, with room for no fewer than 12,500 bikes. In fact, it’s one of the reasons why CNN declared Utrecht the cycling capital of the world. So if you’re in the area, make sure to pop in for a peek. Or park your bike there. Why not? After all, it’s within easy walking distance of the city center. Just for fun, keep an eye on any traffic lights you come across; there’s a good chance you’ll spot Miffy’s iconic silhouette.

Because Utrecht is not very big, especially compared to Amsterdam, many of its unique locales are quick and relatively easy to reach. If you’re prepared to hop on your bike for 15 minutes, a trip to the cultural hotspot
De Nijverheid in Werkspoorkwartier is definitely worth your time. Exhibitions, art shows, movies – you’ll be surprised at how much there is to see here and a lot of it is created or organized by young creatives. It’s the spirit of Berlin but with an Utrecht twist. Visit the EXboot, a former houseboat with a somewhat seedy past – once upon a time, it was used as a brothel. Or enjoy the many performers and the cultural terrace. De Nijverheid hosts unique events on an almost daily basis, especially in the summer. Top tip: if you’re not too familiar with Utrecht, it’s a good idea to bring a map.

Hidden Gems in Utrecht

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Stadsjochies

A stone’s throw from Amelisweerd, the beautiful country estate on the edge of Utrecht, stands a greenhouse that offers elaborate lunches, drinks, snacks and dinners. Look out the window and see exactly how and where the veggies on your plate are grown. It’s a truly beautiful location.

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Boot 122

Right in the middle of the creative hotspot that is De Nijverheid lies Boot 122, a small brewpub that serves dozens of different kinds of beers. Fun fact: Boot 122 used to be a houseboat (that’s where the name comes from).

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Hal22

Padel, squash or fitness: the stylish Hal22 is a new sports center in Leidsche Rijn. It’s the perfect place to work up a sweat before cooling down with a drink and a tasty bite to eat. Fun fact: Hal22’s founders include former soccer star Marco van Basten and actor Barry Atsma.

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Ping Pong Club

Where can you play table tennis, drink beer, eat tasty food and dance, all at one location? Why at the Ping Pong Club, of course. Located in an authentic old train depot, it may sound like some kind of weird theme park, but the Ping Pong Club is actually an extremely trendy spot that is very popular among young people in their 20s and 30s.

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SOIA Strand Oog in Al

Want to dance until the morning light? When summer is in full swing, SOIA (short for Strand Oog in Al, or Oog in Al Beach) is a great place to be, with good food and good DJs.

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